Tears and One Chuckle at Anita Shapiro Memorial Service

The sometimes-icy and always transparent passion of Anita Shapiro, one of City Hall’s favorite volunteers and long-serving commissioners, was celebrated at a memorial service this afternoon at Hillside Memorial Park.

Ms. Shapiro, 66 years old, died on Monday afternoon from complications that included a lengthy war of wills with cancer.

In the final accounting, Robin Turner may have been closest to Ms. Shapiro, a daily visitor and caretaker, they went grocery shopping together and shared meals.

Six times in the last three years, Ms. Turner called the paramedics, hoping each time to keep her friend alive to resume her fight.

Ms. Turner described an exquisite blend in Ms. Shapiro that, usually but not always, appealed to many.

“You could love and hate her in the same moment,” Ms. Turner said.

“Anita never would have made it in the diplomatic corps,” said Mayor Andy Weissman, and the dozens of her mourners chuckled for the only time. “Anita was honest, outspoken, committed and caring.

“Whether it was the Parks and Rec Commission, the Skateboard Park, dogs in the park, dogs on the street, Fiesta La Ballona, political campaigns or any of the dozens of activities Anita threw herself into, you never had to search for nuance or hidden meaning in anything she said.”

“She made you laugh. She made you think. Sometimes she just made you shake your head.

“Anita was a breath of fresh air to be around, and she was the quintessential community person:

“She never was in it for herself, always working for others. She symbolized the specialness with which we regard Culver City.”

Former City Hall staffer Marty Nicholson offered perhaps the tenderest tribute, crackling with emotion as she revisited the spiritual garden of mutual love that sprouted between two strangers who grew to be caring friends.

Ms. Nicholson recalled the night she met Ms. Shapiro, eight years ago this summer, when Ms. Shapiro began an eight-year run on the Parks and Recreation Commission that only recently ended.

“It seems like yesterday that Anita came over to (now-retired Parks/Recreation Director) Don Rogers and me and said she was looking forward to working with us,” Ms. Nicholson said. “She had an uncanny instinct for predicting outcomes with accuracy.

“Shortly afterward, Anita told me, ‘I can tell. We’re going to be friends forever,” and for a moment, Ms. Nicholson, wrought, could not continue.

“She could be your friend, your Jewish mother, your conscience all at the same time. She would tell me her opinion. Even if it hurt, I always knew she did it out of love and compassion.

“Anita was my Jewish mother. She taught me about broken chromosomes, about logic, illogic and so much more.”

Nearly every friend who spoke mentioned the building of the popular Skateboard Park that City Hall officials say will be the most important memorial to her memory.

Ms. Shapiro was prominent in both campaigns of former City Councilman Steve Rose, and he wanted to be precise about her role in realizing the Skate Park.

“Anita didn’t raise money for the park,” Mr. Rose said. “She didn’t design it. She didn’t even put a bunch of rules in place.

“She just grabbed onto the backsides of Council members and made sure it was built.”

When Ms. Shapiro came onto the Parks Commission in July of ’01, her friend the witty Councilman Alan Corlin, created what he called “A Really Nice Commendation” that was reproduced for mourners today.

It said:

“Whereas Anita Shapiro, a 50-year resident of Culver City, has shamelessly, inscrutably, transcendentally, and indubitably given her time and money for her community, and

“Now therefore be it resolved, the friends of Anita Shapiro in and around the great city of Culver City do hereby declare July 29, 2001 as Anita Shapiro Day.”